Barcelos signs for United to team up with Ford again

Banbury United boss Mike Ford has been reunited with Felipe Barcelos after the Brazilian signed today (Friday).

The 24-year-old striker has signed for United following his return to the UK after a spell with Italian Serie D side ASD Santhia Calcio.

I am sure he is a player who can contribute a lot to the team as we look to push on into the play-off places

Puritans boss Mike Ford

The signing has been made possible using funds from the supporters’ players fund set up and ‘ring-fenced’ to supplement the club’s playing budget. The fund is being contributed to by more than 25 supporters and is known as the “Spencer Villa Fund named after the original name of the club when they first entered competitive football in the Banbury & District Junior League in 1933.

Barcelos was born in Brazil and grew up in the city of Dourado before moving to Oxford at the age of 14, joining Oxford City’s academy and working his way through the ranks, making his first team debut in a Southern League game in 2010. He went on to score 41 goals in 125 first team appearances for City before opting to move to Italy in 2013 playing for Serie D side ASD Santhia Calcio.

He returned to Oxford City last season, playing for the Conference North side and made 17 first team starts and 25 substitute appearances, scoring six goals. He re-signed for ASC Santhia Calcio ahead of the current season.

The club have now received international clearance and he will be part of the squad for tomorrow’s (Saturday) game at Tiverton.

Ford said: “This is a great initiative and I have been looking for the right player on which the supporters fund should be used. I have known Felipe for a long time and I am sure he is a player who can contribute a lot to the team as we look to push on into the play-off places in the second half of the season.”